The truth about oral contraceptive pills

The article provides evidence that the following beliefs about oral contraceptive pills are false.

 

There are quite a few myths about oral contraceptive pills. (jlp)

“Oral contraceptive pills cause weight gain”

 

Nowadays, oral contraceptive pills contain substances that rarely cause weight gain. The pills contain progesterone that may slightly increase your appetite and as a result lead to those extra, unwanted pounds. Some women may even have problems when passing urine, but you can avoid all these troubles if your gynecologist prescribes pills with low doses of individual elements. There are different types of oral contraceptive pills and all of them are definitely not be suitable for you. If you experience any problems, you have to consult your gynecologist and together find another solution.

Nowadays, oral contraceptive pills contain a low dose of substances that could cause weight gain. (jlp)

“Occasional breaks from oral contraceptive pills are necessary”

 

Some women feel like they should stop taking oral contraceptive pills for a while to preserve their fertility, but there’s actually no evidence that such breaks are necessary. Some experts even claim that every new beginning can cause greater damage than a relatively stable state maintained by taking the pills on a regular basis. In addition, all the side effects you experienced when you first started taking the pills may show up again, but they usually disappear after a few months. The belief that you should take an occasional break from the pills is most worrying for women who have irregular or heavy periods because the pills help them maintain a stable menstrual cycle and prevent heavy bleeding. The rhythm of taking oral contraceptive pills should be determined by your gynecologist.

The idea that it’s necessary to take an occasional break from the pill worries women who have irregular periods. (jlp)

“Don’t forget to take the pill in the middle of your menstrual cycle”

 

The myth that the middle of a menstrual cycle is the most ‘dangerous’ time to forget the pill is based on the idea that a woman ovulates exactly in the middle of her menstrual cycle. But women who take oral contraceptive pills don’t ovulate because the pills prevent ovulation and their ovaries stay dormant. Even women who don’t take oral contraceptive pills don’t ovulate exactly in the middle of their menstrual cycle. So, it’s not dangerous to forget the pill in the middle of a menstrual cycle but be careful not to forget it at the beginning or end of the cycle. If you accidentally forget to take it, irrespective of the stage of your cycle, follow the instructions on the leaflet or advice of your gynecologist. Usually, you can take the missed pill in the next 12 hours from the time in which you should have taken it.

The most dangerous time to forget the pill is the beginning and end of your menstrual cycle. (jlp)

“Oral contraceptive pills cause infertility”

 

This myth is most probably based on the fact that women can postpone pregnancy until their late thirties if they take oral contraceptive pills, and by that time their peak fertile period starts declining. When women stop taking the pill, they’re usually faced with problems related to conception because their fertility isn’t as high as in their twenties. They often think that the cause of these problems is long-term use of the pills, but the real reason is their age. On the other hand, a woman may have had fertility problems before taking the pill, but she and her partner never found out because they had never tried to conceive a baby. It’s best to wait for a few months before trying for a baby to allow your body to normalize its functions.

Oral contraceptive pills don’t have an adverse effect on fertility. (jlp)

“The pills cause cancer”

 

In fact, oral contraceptive pills have a protective effect and reduce the risk of developing ovarian and endometrial (womb) cancer. For instance, women who take combined oral contraceptive pills develop cervical cancer less often, but a direct link hasn’t been confirmed or proved by experts due to the fact that women who take oral contraceptive pills use condoms less often in sexual intercourse with new partners, so they’re more likely to contract HPV infection, which is the main cause of cervical cancer.

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